Evidence of meeting #18 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cement.
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Director, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
--which is not bricks and mortar, but it's infrastructure in the industry. And yes, that will then be--
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Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
And it's something that doesn't exist presently.
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Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Djigo, your brief contains a lot of things. With respect to tax cuts, I think that everybody was in agreement that taxes should be reduced at least to the rate that was in effect when the Conservatives entered power, so that it's stable for everyone. The Conservatives are currently studying the possibility of cutting taxes for high wage earners.
What are your comments on that subject?
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Representative, Quebec, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
In fact, I don't think we'll get into a political debate on that subject. We—
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Liberal
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Representative, Quebec, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
We're calling on the government—
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Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
A very short answer. I'm not worried about the partisanship; I'm worried about the time.
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Representative, Quebec, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
We're asking that taxes be cut and that it really be for the benefit of those who need it. That's all we're asking to date. If by chance a policy were designed to further favour those who already have more, that would be unfortunate. We're asking that the government always think of those in the greatest need.
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Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Thank you.
Mr. Morrissette, in talking about the polluter-pays principle in your presentation, you clearly illustrated the reasons why you believe that the federal government has a responsibility. These lands have always belonged to the federal government. They were contaminated during that period.
You also talked about the history of the Lachine Canal, which is quite simply the cradle of industrial Canada. So it's normal for the government to contribute to it today, when the site must be redeveloped. The central government's responsibility seems clear to me.
Are there any other organizations, other governments—I'm thinking of the City of Montreal in particular—that have shown an interest in taking part in the funding of phase II of the revitalization project for the Lachine Canal and the postal sorting station, if that were to go ahead?
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Executive Director, Regroupement économique et social du Sud-Ouest
As regards phase II, the City of Montreal has already set aside funds in its three-year capital spending program to continue development of the area surrounding the canal off the federal property, of course.
I would like to go back to the decontamination issue because I wouldn't want to leave the impression that we're asking the federal government for more money. Ultimately, that money is there and has previously been set aside to decontaminate federal lands. I must admit that we are very frustrated to see that, for technical reasons—I don't want to dwell on the technicalities of the matter—the Canada Post site is not entitled to that funding. Only $15 million is needed, which is a relatively modest amount compared to a $4.5 billion fund. That's what it would take to clean up this land and restore it to a state that would make it possible to build affordable housing, social housing and community projects, but also, in a mixed-use spirit, other types of housing as well.
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Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
If the owner of that land were the federal government or a private promoter, rather than the Canada Lands Company, would it have access to that funding?
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Executive Director, Regroupement économique et social du Sud-Ouest
If it was the property of a federal department or agency, which was the case for virtually 180 years... Ultimately, it has only belonged to a Crown corporation for about 20 years. In our opinion, the federal government's responsibility should not be extinguished because it was transferred to a Crown corporation.
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Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
In your opinion, is the federal government responsible for developing these lands? You didn't address that question in your brief, but I know you're thinking of excavating a portion of old historic basins. Are you expecting federal government assistance?
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Executive Director, Regroupement économique et social du Sud-Ouest
That's what's expected in the context of phase II of investments intended for the canal. There were four basins on the Canada Post Corporation site. I repeat: this is a place of national historic importance. The Rideau Canal in Ottawa receives extraordinary federal support, and we see the results. There's no reason why the Lachine Canal in Montreal shouldn't enjoy at least equivalent support.
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Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
Ms. Asselin, you've done a number of things, and my sheet is full of notes. I'm pleased to see that, finally, the decisions we've made concerning Status of Women Canada were not on your list, which I could practically call your grocery list. I wanted to know your opinion.
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President, Fédération des femmes du Québec
It seems a long list, but when you defend women's living and working conditions, you can't stick to just one aspect. The fact that there has been a 50% increase in the Status of Women Canada budget for projects that women's groups may present could meet some requests.
The central criticism—and you'll read it in our brief—is that that money can no longer be used in the defence of women's rights. In our view, that calls into question the very principles of our democracy.
I'll give you an example. With respect to contraception, you know that there are groups in Canada that question the existence of abortion services in Canada. Groups like Focus on the Family Canada, which can have budgets of up to $1 million, will be able to lobby governments. If women's groups don't have any funding to advocate their rights, how can the government say there is a democracy?
How can they cut funding that helps us join forces across Canada to defend a point of view? We do miracles with what little funding we have to examine the situation of women together, the differences between the women of different regions of the country and to make submissions to governments so that the laws are amended.
This is a democracy that we must be very proud of and that we must protect. We maintain our criticism, and I want to repeat it.
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Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
Ms. Asselin, you know that Status of Women Canada has never had as much money for the Women's Program as it does now.
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Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
Moreover, the main change was to reduce the number of public servants from 131 to about 73. The rest of the funding allocated was also used for services intended for women directly in the field.
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President, Fédération des femmes du Québec
But by closing how many offices across Canada?
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Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
How many offices were opened in order to provide services to women? I can tell you about my riding, where Nouveau départ national closed the moment we telephoned. Ms. Bertrand was unplugging the telephone. She took her last call when she answered me. Her organization was closing, and now there are 250 women receiving services.
Do you consider that good or bad?
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President, Fédération des femmes du Québec
That's very good. Services are always important. But you'll understand that you also have to go to the source of problems and see whether collectively we can make decisions, amend legislation and change criteria. We said that employment insurance is discriminatory. You have to be able to do research and intervene with all the governments in order to ensure that we will finally achieve equality between men and women. It's not a question of money, but of orientation.